Maryland · Rock climbing · Thurmont · Near Ballenger Creek

Wolf's Head Pillar

Wolf's Head PillarPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.0 – 5.10b
Top Rope · Trad
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Is Wolf's Head Pillar open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Catoctin Mountain Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Catoctin Mountain Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Wolf's Head Pillar is a climbing area in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland, managed by the National Park Service. It sits within the park's own land, and there is no fee to visit. The area has six routes, with four top-roped and two trad climbs. Grades run from 5.0 to 5.10b, with the hardest being Wolf's Head Right at 5.10b. Wolf's Head Pillar Access is a top-roped 5.0, and Eye of the Mind is a top-roped 5.9. The most comfortable months for a visit are typically late spring and early fall. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest at about 84°F. The Main Wall and Wolf Rock are both climbing areas about 0.1 mile away. Camp Misty Mount and Camp Round Meadow are campgrounds about 0.6 mile off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Camp Round Meadow

    Campground

    The next 8 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Burger King

    Fast food

    On your way back · 1 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsAcroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Schifferstadt Architectural Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 15 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in Ballenger Creek
  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Wolf's Head Pillar

    Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      39° / 23°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 25°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      52° / 31°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      65° / 42°

      12 wet

    5. May

      73° / 52°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      80° / 60°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 65°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 63°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 58°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 46°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 36°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      43° / 28°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Catoctin Mtn Park, MD, 2.5 mi away at 1,610 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

Facts about this crag

Rules & access

Fee
No fee

Source: National Park Service API

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

The Main WallPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Main Wall

Next door

Main Wall, The in Maryland has 14 climbing routes with 7 difficulty grades.

Wolf RockPhoto: TrailVoice, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wolf Rock

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Wolf Rock in Maryland has 4 top-rope climbing routes.

Chief BlockPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Chief Block

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Cunningham FallsPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cunningham Falls

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Cliff Trail BouldersPhoto: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cliff Trail Boulders

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41 climbing routes at Cliff Trail Boulders in Maryland.

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Charcoal Exhibition Boulder

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Hog Rock

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